Nearly half of the 156 wines selected for the 32nd Nederburg Auction have already run the gauntlet at local and international wine shows, as well as attaining coveted listings on airlines or five-star ratings in respected wine guides such as the John Platter.

With ABSA Top Ten Competition sponsor ABSA bank now owned by UK banking giant Barclays – recently returned to SA after an apartheid-era retreat – it made good political sense to include foreign judges this year. Not that this was given as the reason.

This year, the year of Groot Constantia’s 320th anniversary, the current team certainly continued the Estate’s reputation as a place where hospitality and social grace are still as important as it was all those centuries ago.